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PHEVs produce almost 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported data indicate, as per a new analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis carried out by a non-profit organization. That contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of 800,000 cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official emissions are falling,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery mode relative to overall mileage. They found that just a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while official assumptions assumed 84%.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. This happened because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function independently, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several large automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more per year in running costs than would be assumed under laboratory tests.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with significant car manufacturing.

Several senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “very useful addition” after years in which segments of the car sector argued there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this evidence.”